Transparency is key to eliminating corruption: U.S. prosecutor

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Transparency and openness are the two keys to eradicate corrupt practices in government offices, visiting United States Federal Prosecutor Patrick Donley says.

"Corruption is a serious problem in our country, we can reduce or eliminate it by making the government more transparent and more open to the people," Donley said on Friday.

Speaking after the closing ceremony of a three-day training for Indonesian prosecutors, he said that public participation was vital in reducing corruption.

He also said that Indonesia was on the right track in combating the crime, but the legal apparatus had much to learn about the new anticorruption regulations.

"I think one of the biggest problems is the newness of some of the laws," Donley said.

"They don't have the experience using these laws to bring politicians and corrupt government officials before the judges. That will come with time," he added.

Donley also praised the establishment of an anticorruption commission in Indonesia, saying that such a commission would be a milestone in the fight against graft here.

Donley, along with U.S. public defenders John Chamble and Andrew Mohring and paralegal Sumi Nakashi were in the country to give a seminar on criminal fraud and corruption.

The three-day seminar, funded by the U.S. government, was attended by prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office and several officials from the National Police.

At the closing ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce said that the success of anticorruption efforts required unwavering commitment on the part of the government as well as support and confidence of the people.

"The great challenge facing each of the legal apparatus is to meet the expectations of the Indonesian people and to gain their trust and confidence," Boyce said.

He stressed that without the confidence of the people, the vigilante would continue, as the rule of law was the only thing that stands between order and anarchy.

"To maintain order and ensure justice in a democracy, justice sector institutions must perform in a transparent manner so as to garner the public's trust," the ambassador said.

According to a recent report from International Transparency, Indonesia ranks as the 10th most corrupt country in the world, with Kenya in 9th place and the most corrupt nation cited as Bangladesh.

The country is currently waiting for the establishment of the anticorruption commission, which will have the authority to investigate and prosecute graft offenders.

Boyce said that corruption should be stopped as it scared off foreign investors and had wide implications both socially and economically.